Container-spreader spacing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus shared by two spreaders capable of spacing the spreaders during simultaneous confronting vertical movements while supported on cables from a crane. The apparatus includes a horizontally-adjustable abutment carriage on one spreader and a swing-away bumper member mounted on the other spreader.

United States Patent [1 1 1111 3,747,9'7.

Fathauer et al. July 24, 1973 CONTAINER-SPREADER SPACING 3,502,365 3 1970 Callow 294/81 APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Jack E. Fathaner, Roxboro, N.C.;

Carl Gottlieb, Mobile All Pnmary Exammer-Evon C. Blunk I Assistant Examiner-Johnny D. Cherry [73] Asslgnee: Mulland-Ross Corporation, Attorney woodmw w p Cleveland, Ohio [22] Filed: Jan. 17, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 218,372

I 57 ABSTRACT 52 user. 294/81 SF, 212/14, 294/67 R 4 51 rm. c1. B66c 1/10 Apparatus Shared y two Spreaders capable of Spacmg [58] Field of Search 294/67 R, 67 DA, the Spreaders during Simultaneous confronting vertical 294/81 SFLZIZ/H, 214/15 movements while supported on cables from a crane.

248/119 R, 361 The apparatus includes a horizontally-adjustable abutment carriage on one spreader and a swing-away bum- 55 References Cited per member mounted on the other spreader.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,536,35l 10/1970 Zwei fel et a]. 294/81 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented July 24, 1973 3,747,970

3 Sheets-Sheet l Patented July 24, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l CONTAINER-SPREADER SPACING APPARATUS BACKGROUND Because of the substantial investment and great size of cranes needed to handle cargo containers in transferring the containers between dockside storage or carrier areas, the efficiency of the crane is increased if two containers can be handled simultaneously. The shipping industry is currently rapidly attaining capability of this type with the development of spacing devices or apparatus which will accurately align or couple two spreaders in a relatively fixed position with respect to a horizontal plane in which the spreaders are maintained as they are simultaneously shifted to different elevations or simultaneously carried between horizontally-spaced locations. Such spacing equipment has at least two important functions, i.e., (1) to accurately position two containers for placement in open storage so that future pickup is facilitated and (2) to position the containers or loadless spreaders for properly-aligned entry into adjacent hatch openings of a ship. Since the spreader may descend to considerable depths below the hatch opening, the latter function requires that any parts of the spacing mechanism protruding beyond the profile in plan view of either spreader be retractable to within such profile. It is also essential that the spacing mechanism be arranged to guide spreaders safely into the ship's hull even though the spreaders are horizontally maladjusted.

' SUMMARY Objects of the invention are to provide mechanism for spacing approximately horizontally-alignedspreaders which (1 assuresthe passage of the spaced spreaders along desired vertical pathsin spite of considerable horizontal misalignment, (2) requires actuation by an operator but enables emergencyrelease of the primary marily an upwardly extending stanchion and a bumper member pivotally connected with an upper end portion of the stanchion and actuated by a servo-motor device to rapidly swing the member between an operative horizontal position and an upright position above the stanchion. The stanchion and the guide structure are of such heights as to allow a desired range in the variation of relative elevations of the spreaders while held in spaced relationship through engagement of the bumper member and the guide structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two cargo containers supported in end-to-end relation by two spreaders incorporating spreader spacing mechanism and an overhead track-supported crane from which the loaded spreaders are supported by cables.

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevation of the spreaders of FIG. 1 illustrating the arrangement of cables of one spreader with respect to that of the other.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the spreaders of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing portions of the spacing mechanism mounted thereon in operative position.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating, as a modification, a spacing mechanism having an overload spacing element, (3) provides adjustability by the crane operator to change the spacing of the spreaders inaccordance with, e.g., the width of ship partitioning structure received betweenthe spreaders, and (4) provides convenient mounting on conventional spreader structures including those not originally equipped with such spacing mechanism.

These objects are achieved in cargo container handling equipment including a pair of spreaders and a crane or other carrier for supporting the spreaders on cables in side-by-side or end-to-end relationship. The components of the crane are arranged toplace the spreaders in close juxtaposition or actual engagement in the absence of spacing mechanism. The equipment further includes a guide carriage mounted on one of the spreaders along its top adjacent the side or end of the spreader opposing the respective adjacent side or end of the other spreader in guide relationship with its supporting spreader for movements toward and away from the other spreader. The carriage has a horizontallyreentrant guide structure opening toward a region above the other spreader, i.e., a vertical plane generally containing the adjacent side of its supporting spreader. The carriage is adjustable toward and away from the adjacent side of its supporting spreader along a rectilinear ambit.

The mechanism further includes an abutment device mounted atop the other spreaderhaving the function of engaging the upright guide structure of the carriage within the reentrant region. Such a device includes priclutch for connecting the bumper element of the mechanism with an actuator.

FIG. 6 is a hydraulic diagram for two spreaders spaced by apparatus hereindisclosed showing a pressure releasing bypass valve arrangement and the fluid supply systemfor a fluid cylinder actuator of the bumper member of FIGS. 1-4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 depicts a typical environment in which the invention is used wherein a pair ,of spreaders 5,6 are suspended from the track-supported mobile hoisting unit 7 which, e.g., may be a portion of a dockside gantry crane. As shown, each spreader comprises four sheaves around which are laced four cables providing connecting strands for each spreader. A desired spacing of spreaders 5 and 6 is maintained as shown in FIG. 2 wherein an abutment device 8 fixed to the spreader 5 shown engaged with a carriage 9 adjustably mounted on the spreader 6 separates the spreaders to the extent shown between end surfaces 11 and 12 thereof. To cause engagement of portions 8 and 9 of the spacing mechanism, the spreaders 5,6 are suspended from the crane 7 so that in the absence of enforced spacing by the spacing mechanism 10 the spreaders assume a neutral or equilibrium condition of rest under the influence of gravity with their end surfaces 11,12 substantially engaged along a neutral'plane CC.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cables 13a, 13b of the two spreaders are forced out of their truly vertical alignments illustrated in dot-dash lines as the carriage 9 is adjusted to obtain spacing between the spreaders in opposition to the tendency of the spreaders to swing together toward the plane C-C by action of gravity.

As shown, the abutment device 8 comprises an upright stanchion l4 constructed in quadrilateral framelike configuration fixed at its bottom end to the spreader frame 15 closely to the end thereof opposing the other spreader 6. The device 8 further comprises a bumper member 17 of quadrilateral frame-like configuration having projecting eye elements 18 and 19 secured to clevis portions 21,22 of the stanchion 14 by pins 23,24 along a common axis A-A extending parallel to the adjacent end surface 11 of the associated supporting spreader 5. The device further includes reinforcement bars 26,27 which extend from upper portions of the upright side members of the stanchion 14 to a point 28 of anchorage to a cross member 29 of the spreader frame. The bumper member 17 comprises a crank arm 31 attached to a cross element 32 of the member, and a fluid operated cylinder 33 pivotally attached by one of its ends to the distal end of the crank arm and by its other end in a pivotal joint to a frame element of the spreader in such a way as to exert torque on the bumper member tending to swing the member about the axis AA between the operative horizontal position shown and upright retracted position shown in phantom. It may be noted that all portions of the device 8 are bolted to the spreader frame thereby rendering the device installable on newly constructed or used spreaders.

Considering now the major portion of the spacing mechanism 10, the guide carriage 9 mounted on spreader 6 comprises an integral generally dihedral or right-angle shaped frame including an upright guide portion 35 and a horizontally aligned base portion 36 integrally joined thereto. The carriage 9 is mounted on the frame 37 of spreader 6 in guide relation therewith for movement toward and away from its side or end in immediate opposition with a corresponding side or end of the spreader 5. The ambit of the carriage is defined by a pair of rails 38,39 secured to underlying frame elements of the spreader frame 37 so that substantial edge portions 38a, 39a of the rails project in the lateral outward direction of the spreader beyond the supporting frame elements. The rail edge portions have upper and lower surfaces adapting the rail edges to be received between upper rollers 41 and lower rollers 42. Pairs of upper and lower rollers are vertically spaced as shown approximately the thickness of the rails 38,39 and secured to vertical carriage plates 45 on transversely horizontally aligned trunnions, such as trunnions 43,44. The vertical plates 45 of the carriage ride at close clearance with the outer edges of the tracks 38,39 to maintain the carriage in a precise rectilinear ambit lengthwise of the rails.

The upstanding guide portion 35 of the carriage comprises guide rails 47,48 fixed therewithin which are elongate in a vertical direction and L-shaped in cross section in a horizontal plane. Together in rails 47,48 define corner portions of a horizontally reentrant region located generally above the spreader 6 within which the distal end of the bumper member 17 of the abutment device is received. It is to be noted that the re-entrant region is further formed by outward edge portions 47a,48a of the rails which turn outwardly in horizontal directions to cause the reentrant region to be flared for the purpose of providing gathering action to a bumper member 17 not accurately aligned for entry between the rails 47,48. As shown, the rails are spaced in the transverse direction of the spreader to receive the rollers 51,52 of the member 17 at close clearance thereby enabling practically coaxial alignment of the longitudinal axes of both spreaders. The upper ends of the rails 47,48 are provided with flanges 53,54, which flare outwardly from the reentrant region contiguously with all vertically planate portions of the rails in order to increase the gathering ability of the rails as the member approaches the reentrant region defined thereby from above.

The carriage 9 is transversed horizontally lengthwise of the rails 38,39 by a fluid cylinder 57 having one end thereof connected to the spreader frame by a clevis and eye connection including a pin 58 at one end of the cylinder and a similar clevis and eye connection including a pin 59 connecting the other end of the cylinder with a frame portion of the carriage 9. The term fluid cylinder as used in this disclosure includes a complete fluid actuated device comprising a cylinder, piston, piston rod, with the outer end of the piston rod and the closed end of the cylinder providing portions of respective clevis and eye connections. The carriage is further shown with a measuring rod 61 mounted on a lower portion thereof in proximity to a stationary limit switch 62. The limit switch is operated by a detent 63 adjustable along the measuring rod. The limit switch may be employed for interrupting a circuit used in energizing a fluid supply means for the cylinder 57.

FIG. 5 illustrates an optional abutment device 8'. The stanchion 14 and the bumer member 17 may resemble in construction their counterparts in FIGS. 1-4 except for the construction of the hinge joint between the stanchion and the bumper member and the connection of the cylinder or servo power unit 33 with the bumper member. In the earlier described embodiment, these structural features were separate but are not combined in the apparatus of FIG. 5. In describing the embodiment of FIG. 5, numerals corresponding to those for identifying portions of the abutment device 8 are used to the extent possible. Analogous parts are indicated by the same numeral indexed with a prime mark.

The basic two features of the device 8' are that (l) the stanchion 14' and the bumper member 17' are connected coaxially by a single removable shaft 65 extending through bearing portions of the stanchion and the member. The shaft is made non-rotatable with respect to the member 17' by the set screws 66,67 or other locking devices, such as keyways and keys, extending through hub or bearing portions of the member 17' into the shaft. The shaft is rotatable within hub portions 68,69 of the stanchion. The crank arm 31' is integral with the hub portion of the clutch member 72 restricted in movement toward bearing portion 69 right as shown in FIG. 5 by a collar 73 pinned to the shaft 65. The clutch member 72 is freely rotatable about the shaft 65 except for the clutch member 75 urged thereagainst in face-to-face relationship by a spring 76 to maintain a ridge 77 in the face of clutch member 75 in reentrant relation with a groove 78 in the opposing face of member 72.

The driving relation between the cylinder 33 and the shaft 65 is completed by rendering the clutch member 75 non-rotatable with respect to the shaft 65 but slidable therealong in an axial direction to permit overload release and relative movement of the clutch members when the bumper member 17' engages an obstruction. Axial movement of the member 75 relative to the shaft is obtained through provision of an axially extending slot 81 in the hub portion of the clutch member 75 and a key 82 received in the slot and anchored in the shaft 65.

Pressure of the spring 76 against the clutch member 75 may be adjusted by changing the axial position of a 5. collar 84 bearing against the spring. Such adjustment is attained through rotation of a screw 85 in threaded relation with a nut 86 welded to the end of the shaft 65. The screw 85 extends through an axial bore of the shaft into engagement with a key 87 extending through the shaft and bearing against diametrically opposite end areas of the collar 84. The key 87 is received in an axially extending slot 88 which provides a range of move- "ment for the key in response" to adjustments of the screw 85, enabling changes in the clutch face pressures of members 72,75. H I Y A toggle switch 91 is shown mounted on the collar 84 in a position to be actuated to off and on position when engaged by an actuator arm 92 anchored to the hub portion of the clutch member 75. This switch may be utilized for operating a warning device or interrupting the power to the hoisting motors of the crane.

FIG. 6 illustrates a hydraulic systemin symbols authorized as standard by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The diagram is illustrative of the equipment for supplying hydraulic power that may be carriedon spreaders and 6. For the purpose of this disclosure it is necessary to supply power to the carriage adjusting cylinder 57'of spreader 6 and the cylinder 33 of spreader 5 for swinging the bumper member I7 betwe'enupright andhoriz'ontal positions. Especially to be noted is that thesolenoid valve 95 is constructed to maintain a line open to'a relief valve'96 at eitherof the two positions ofthe valve. The valve96 is of a type adjustable to released at a desired pressure in the event of increases in pressure in the line 97 resulting from opposition by any substantial pressurerises occuring as a result of obstructions to movement of the cylinder 33 and other hydraulic devices served by the system. Pressure rises in the cylinder 33 would arise should the bumper member be in horizontal operative position and engage a ship element or other obstruction.

We claim: I

1. Cargo container handling equipment comprising a plurality of spreaders, means forsupporting and simultaneously moving the spreaders while supported in'adjacent side-by-side relationship in an approximate horizontal plane, and horizontal adjustable mechanism for spacing adjacent spreaders within said planeto space adjacent sides thereof comprising:

' a guide carriage mounted on one of said pair of spreaders in guide relation therewith along an ambit of movement having a horizontal component toward and away from said adjacent side thereof, said carriage comprising horizontally-spaced guide means in fixed relation thereon extending in a plane parallel to a vertical plane generally containing said adjacent side and defining a horizontallyreentrant region generally above said spreader opening toward said vertical plane and terminating away from said plane in vertically continuous surfaces of the guide means;

I adjustable means for positioning'the carriage at preselected portions along said ambit;

an abutment device for engaging said guide means within said region comprising a stanchion mounted on the other spreader of said pair adjacent its side of said adjacent sides in opposed relation with said carriage, and a bumper member pivotally connected with said upper end portion of said stanchion along a horizontal pivotal axis generally parallel to said adjacent side;

said spaced guide means of the carriage having a vertical length defining a vertical range within which said guide means may be engaged, said pivotal axis of connection of the stanchion and the member occurring at a height midway along the length of said range when respective spreaders of the carriage and the abutment means are positioned in a common horizontal plane of cargo container engagement;

.said member being swing'able from an upright position over said stanchion to a horizontal position wherein a substantial portion of the member projects beyond said other spreader adapting the distal end of the member to locate 'within said region, said member being of a width adapting it to engage said spaced guide'means simultaneously in close transverse clearance therewith; and

power means acting between the member and said othersp'reader for positioning the member.

2. The cargo container handling equipment of claim 1 wherein: g

said spaced guide means have vertically aligned guide surfaces in dihedral angular relation forming vertically-extending corner portions of said region, and

said member has distal end portions simultaneously effecting close proximitywith said surface of the guide means at operative position of the member. 3. The cargo container, handling equipment of claim 2 wherein:

said distal end portions comprise anti-friction means for engaging said surfaces of the guide means.

4. The cargo container handling equipment of claim 1 wherein:

said guide means are of open-ended construction at the top with flared flanges to facilitate movement woe.

s r a 4: t 

1. Cargo container handling equipment comprising a plurality of spreaders, means for supporting and simultaneously moving the spreaders while supported in adjacent side-by-side relationship in an approximate horizontal plane, and horizontal adjustable mechanism for spacing adjacent spreaders within said plane to space adjacent sides thereof comprising: a guide carriage mounted on one of said pair of spreaders in guide relation therewith along an ambit of movement having a horizontal component toward and away from said adjacent side thereof, said carriage comprising horizontally-spaced guide means in fixed relation thereon extending in a plane parallel to a vertical plane generally containing said adjacent side and defining a horizontally-reentrant region generally above said spreader opening toward said vertical plane and terminating away from said plane in vertically continuous surfaces of the guide means; adjustable means for positioning the carriage at preselected portions along said ambit; an abutment device for engaging said guide means within said region comprising a stanchion mounted on the other spreader of said pair adjacent its side of said adjacent sides in opposed relation with said carriage, and a bumper member pivotally connected with said upper end portion of said stanchion along a horizontal pivotal axis generally parallel to said adjacent side; said spaced guide means of the carriage having a vertical length defining a vertical range within which said guide means may be engaged, said pivotal axis of connection of the stanchion and the member occurring at a height midway along the length of said range when respective spreaders of the carriage and the abutment means are positioned in a common horizontal plane of cargo container engagement; said member being swingable from an upright position over said stanchion to a horizontal position wherein a substantial portion of the member projects beyond said other spreader adapting the distal end of the member to locate within said region, said member being of a width adapting it to engage said spaced guide means simultaneously in close transverse clearance therewith; and power means acting between the member and said other spreader for positioning the member.
 2. The cargo container handling equipment of claim 1 wherein: said spaced guide means have vertically aligned guide surfaces in dihedral angular relation forming vertically-extending corner portions of said region, and said member has distal end portions simultaneously effecting close proximity with said surface of the guide means at operative position of the member.
 3. The cargo container handling equipment of claim 2 wherein: said distal end portions comprise anti-friction means for engaging said surfaces of the guide means.
 4. The cargo container handling equipment of claim 1 wherein: said guide means are of open-ended construction at the top with flared flanges to facilitate movement of said member into and out of the top of said region.
 5. The cargo container handling equipment of claim 1 wherein: said adjustable means is a fluid cylinder acting between said carriage and the associated spreader; and said power means includes a crank arm projecting radially outwardly from said pivotal axis, and a fluid cylinder connecting with, and acting between, said arm and the spreader supporting said abutment device. 